How much dry pasta makes a great bowl of pasta and sauce? We love a great bowl of pasta. It’s one of our most favorite comfort foods, especially on a cold winter night. I am particularly fond of Orecchiette, the little “ears” — the exact…

One of New York’s great Celebrity Chefs cuts cooking time on an Italian Classic Chef Bobby Flay has been one of my favorite New York chefs ever since I worked above his store. That is to say when my office was above Mesa Grill, his…

# 1 Candidate for Dinner any night this week This recipe is amazingly easy to put together and quick to cook.  That makes it a candidate for any weeknight dinner you have this week.  And I even found a hack that made it even easier.…

Bring a dish of Summer Sunshine to your Winter table in under 30 minutes flat. I nominate this dish for being a great big bowl of happy colors, great flavors, and almost instant gratification.  It comes together in under 30 minutes. That alone qualifies it…

A new take on Baked Ziti, an Italian Classic from Recipe Developer Extraordinaire Alison Roman If you’ve ever cooked a recipe from Alison Roman, you’ll be mightily impressed by the spin she puts on Classics.  And this dish is a classic.  Ziti al forno, which…

A dish you can have on the table in under 30 minutes Coming across this recipe was like running into an old friend.  It’s from “Bobby at Home: Fearless Flavors from My Kitchen” (Clarkson Potter 2019), Bobby Flay’s latest cookbook. In it he says, “I…

Chicken Cacciatore, that Italian classic Chicken Stew, seems an odd choice for a summer meal. However, not too long ago, I was craving it and having just loaded up on Chicken thighs and with 8 people coming to dinner, I went with my craving and…

The thrill of being invited to participate in a three-day adventure at the Culinary Institute of America, Napa Valley, California branch is about as good as it gets. Especially if you’re a self-taught home cook.  And the experience exceeded every imaginable expectation I had. How…

Asparagus season is coming and here’s a great way to celebrate its arrival. While a frittata sounds rather fancy, it’s a very easy dish to make. Far simpler than flipping an omelette, it’s wildly versatile too.  For this version, I added shallots and cremini mushrooms…

Ah, Ribollita…the Tuscan soup that’s a perfect antidote to winter.  Hearty and robust, it’s packed with vegetables and day-old bread making it far more a stew than a soup.  Its origins are precise.  Its roots are in the peasant foods of Tuscany particularly in the…

Yotan Ottolenghi is arguably one of the most influential chefs in the world.  His latest cookbook “Ottolenghi Simple” (Ten Speed Press 2108) was just released in this country last week. Chef Ottolenghi has been a frequent presence on these pages and links to his other…

In keeping with our vow to eat less meat and experiment with a more plant-based diet, I was delighted to have found the bones of this recipe in Food and Wine. It’s pure vegetarian, a wonderful balance of textures and flavors with just a shot…

I consider Pizza a perfect food.  In one slice, you combine dairy, vegetables, carbohydrates and protein.  And you pick it up with one hand to eat it—no utensils necessary. All right, I use a fork which is contrary to New York pizza etiquette but not…

I won’t go into the dreary details of two nights spent in Frankfurt Airport where a freak storm stranded over 7000 passengers except to say that if a contest were held First Prize would be one night in Frankfurt Airport and Second Prize would be…